Quote:
Originally Posted by Avalanche333
Is there an increase in the whole "he's Russian, so he'll stay in the KHL" thinking this year? I don't really understand it. It started with Grigorenko, but now it's gone to Yakupov, and I've even read rumors that Galchenyuk might be a liability because he'll want to play in Russia. Wat? The dude seems pretty committed to the USA, afaik.
So is there an increase? Why? Is it just the improving KHL? The fact that Grigorenko had the same junior team as Radulov? Just straight up xenophobia stuff? Someone help me understand.
edit: This might have been happening the same every year, and I'm just finally paying attention to the draft because the Leafs have a pick.
This has been going on for a while, tbh. I think it's why Cherepanov fell in the 2007 draft. Nikita Filatov's attitude was garbage and part of it is because he could always run to the KHL. I think it's part of why Kiril Kabanov fell as far as he did. The issue isn't necessarily that the player will jump to the KHL - although that's clearly a fear - but it's that he can use the KHL as a bargaining chip. It's unpredictable - you never know what they are going to offer to lure someone over there. And they can leave at any time during the season.